Firmware Versions on the NexStar 6/8 SE

NexStar 6/8 SE scopes have two sets of processors. There are processors
in the hand control (HC) and there are processors in the base of the scope
in a section known as the motor control (MC). The MC firmware can be
updated by the owner (read
this). Note that the NexStar 6/8 SE mount is distinct from the NexStar 4/5 SE
and uses different MC firmware.

There have been two versions of hand control available for the SE:

Hand control version 4.X. This hand control can be updated by the
owner. Read
this
for step by step instructions on upgrading the firmware.

The NexStar+ hand control. This hand control can be updated by the
owner and began shipping with new SE scopes in January 2012. It is
also available for purchase since February 2012. Read
this
for info on this new hand control and
this
for step by step instructions on upgrading the firmware.

For additional details about features on newer versions, check the
Manuals section of this web site.

The method Celestron uses to distribute firmware for the NexStar+ hand
control makes it pretty much impossible for me to maintain a comprehensive list
of firmware they release for that model. As such, you should run the CFM
update software to see if a newer version is available at this time.

5.21.2200 - Several bug fixes, mostly just menu fixes and Asian character
set fixes.

5.21.2064 - Several bug fixes, most significantly the RS-232 negative
declination bug in 5.20, problems with the international cities database,
problems with Auto 2 Star Align and the problem with NGC catalog entries
above 5462. Also reorganized the menu, creating a Hand Control menu to
access controls for the display and backlight.

5.20 - The first version for the new NexStar+ hand control. Features
are basically the same as 4.20, including unfortunately the RS-232
negative declination bug - if you connect a computer/PDA/smart phone to the
RS-232 port and direct a GoTo to an object with negative declination, the
scope will instead point to +90 declination. It is
recommended you upgrade to 5.21.2064 or higher.

Version 4 Hand Control (firmware files are named NXS)

4.21 - Fixed the RS-232 negative declination bug found in 4.20.

4.20 - This version has a bug - if you connect a computer/PDA/smart
phone to the RS-232 port and direct a GoTo to an object with negative
declination, the scope will instead point to +90 declination. It
is recommended you upgrade to 4.21 or higher. Fixed an error in the GoTo RA-Dec menu item. Hand Control now
reports immediately if the are communication ("No Response") difficulties at
start up. No Response errors now give a "Press UNDO to continue"
option. For mounts with a GPS module in use, changed the messages
displayed to clarify when the GPS was still attempting a link and when it
was successful.

4.18 - An important upgrade with many new features and fixes. The
hand control now calculates positions with respect to precession - in other
words, previously all coordinates were J2000 while this version uses JNow.
Polar alignment routine is now under the Align menu and allows alignments on
stars other than Polaris. Additionally, after polar alignment, the
scope no longer requires a new alignment. Fixes problems with Southern Hemisphere
alignments. Pressing ALIGN while in the Named Stars menu
now takes you to the Align menu. If there is no GPS module,
changes the initial alignment to always prompt for the date and
time. Sets slew rate to 5 upon waking from
hibernation. The Factory Settings menu item now resets all motor
control settings (as well as the hand control settings) and will force the
user to restart the system. The hand control is now locked when
performing a motor control upgrade via the port on the bottom of the hand
control. Added two PC control commands: one to undo any current
"Sync", the other to retrieve the local sidereal time from the hand control.
Fixed error when using SAO stars (selected from the STAR button) as
alignment objects. Fixes a bug which changes rate if a direction
button is pressed after the RATE button. Fixes a rare problem updating the motor control through
the hand control. Corrects Abell objects with negative magnitudes.

4.15 - Shipped on some SE scopes at the end of 2009, this version was
never officially released by Celestron. It includes all of the
features of 4.18, except the Southern Hemisphere fixes, the SAO star as
alignment object fix and the fix for the
rare problem updating the motor control through the hand control.

4.13 - This version allows the motor control (MC) firmware to be upgraded
via the port on the bottom of the hand control.